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If your family’s safety is your top priority, you should be aware of the dangers of radon gas. Radon poisoning is a very serious condition that can potentially lead to long-term negative side effects for your health. Radon is originally created during the radioactive breakdown and decay of uranium deposits in the soil. The result is an odorless, tasteless and invisible gas. Its toxicity level is very high, though it may seem harmless simply because it is so difficult to detect. If your house contains accumulated radon gas, its radioactive attack on the body stealthily progresses without your knowledge, poisoning you gradually. Because radon poisoning is introduced via inhalation, it is a leading cause of lung cancer in those who are exposed to the harmful gas over a period of time. The adverse effects of radon poisoning may not be discovered until many years into the future. That is why prevention and detection are critical to keeping your health and your family’s health protected.

What Should I Do to Start Radon Abatement?

Detecting radon gas in your home is impossible through your senses alone. Therefore, several testing methods have been developed for quick detection. A home version of these tests can often be purchased at a local home improvement store such as Home Depot or Lowe’s.

There are four different types of passive tests: charcoal canister, charcoal liquid scintillation device, alpha track detector, or electret ion detector. These are normally used for only in one-time readings; however, some devices have the ability to provide continual readings of radon levels. These active devices are more expensive and often more advanced in technical capabilities, utilizing electricity to keep producing their readings.

To test, simply place one of the tests at breathing level in your basement and wait for between a couple of days to a week to collect the reading (the testing kit’s instructions will specify the exact waiting period necessary). You then send the test results to a laboratory that is approved by the Environmental Protection Agency. The results are sent back to you, and if they are higher than 4.0 pCi/L, you should have the radon professionally removed by SWAT Environmental radon abatement technicians. Of course, many people have SWAT Environmental perform the testing as well to ensure that it is accurate.

Having Radon Abatement Performed

While there are a few “home remedy” types of radon abatement practices, they may or may not lower the levels safely. It is safer to rely on professional radon abatement experts from SWAT Environmental. They may use a variety of techniques. One common method is to install a soil suction system. Another is to install a fan-based mitigation system, also known as a sub-slab depressurization system. SWAT’s radon abatement experts will analyze your home to determine exactly what method will work best in your situation. After the radon abatement system is installed, you can rest easy, knowing that your family’s health is protected.